Haiti celebrates rare moment of unity after World Cup qualification | OneFootball

Fireworks, chants, and dancing. Right after Haiti's national soccer team qualified for the 2026 World Cup, thousands of people took to the streets of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday to celebrate a rare moment of joy and unity in a country devastated by gang violence.

The Caribbean nation secured its spot in the competition for the first time in half a century, a remarkable feat considering it did not play any home matches due to security concerns.

“We need a national holiday to celebrate, with schools closed. We need joy and pleasure. We need to unlock the country and eradicate the gangs,” said an ecstatic fan in Port-au-Prince to AFP.

Until the early hours of Wednesday, euphoria took over the capital and also cities in the north of the country, such as Cap-Haitien and Miragoâne. In Port-au-Prince, thousands of people celebrated in the streets to the rhythm of popular songs and chants sung by rara bands, the festive Haitian music.

Several fans paraded shirtless, waving national flags, amid applause and fireworks. People from all social classes, united by their team's victory.

The joy even reached neighborhoods controlled by criminal groups, such as Fontamara and Bas-Delmas.

The fireworks were accompanied by gunfire in the night sky of Port-au-Prince. Even Jimmy Cherisier “Barbecue,” leader of the gang coalition “Viv ansanm” (Live Together), joined the celebrations with residents of his neighborhood, according to videos posted on social media.

Just three days earlier, Barbecue had announced his intention to confront the police and urged the population to stay in their homes.

A Brief Respite

The Haitian team's qualification offers a welcome relief for a population long exhausted by the violence of organized gangs that control 90% of the capital.

These groups, accused of murder, rape, looting, and kidnappings, have caused a severe humanitarian crisis in the poorest country in the Americas, already plagued by chronic political instability.

The situation deteriorated even further since the beginning of 2024, when gangs forced then Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign.

However, on Tuesday night, everyone seemed focused on what was happening on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, where Haiti had to play its qualifying matches as the home team after gangs took control of the stadium in Port-au-Prince.

After the 2-0 victory against Nicaragua, fans had to wait for the draw between Costa Rica and Honduras to celebrate what seemed impossible: Haiti's second participation in the World Cup, after the 1974 edition in Germany.

“I shouldn't be out on the street at this hour, but since it's for Haiti, I'm doing it anyway,” said Widenie Bruno, a fan from Port-au-Prince.

Like her, another young fan had no plans to go to sleep. “I'm so proud of Haiti that I'm going to spend everything tonight,” he said. “I'll wake up without a penny. We're going to spend the night in the streets.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.